Engineering Licensing in Delray Beach, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida requires licensure for individuals who offer or perform engineering services. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "practice of engineering" means providing services or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience—including design, analysis, evaluation, or consultation on construction projects, infrastructure, and public safety systems.

If you perform engineering work in Delray Beach, you must hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license issued by the state. This applies whether you work as an independent consultant, employee, or firm principal.

How to Get Licensed

Step 1: Meet Education Requirements
Complete a four-year ABET-accredited engineering degree or equivalent.

Step 2: Gain Required Experience
Accumulate four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed engineer's supervision. Fla. Stat. § 489.113 sets specific qualifications for practice.

Veterans with relevant military training may receive credit toward experience requirements. See Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 for details.

Step 3: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam
Pass the NCEES FE exam (typically taken before or during experience accumulation).

Step 4: Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam
After meeting experience requirements, pass the NCEES PE exam in your engineering discipline.

Step 5: Apply to Florida
Submit your application to the Construction Industry Licensing Board, established under Fla. Stat. § 489.107. The board processes all PE license applications statewide.

Local Requirements

Delray Beach is governed by the Delray Beach Municipal Code. Once licensed by the state, you must comply with local permitting requirements when performing engineering work in the city.

Contact the Delray Beach Building Department for:
- Engineering permit applications
- Local design standards and amendments
- Project-specific submission requirements

The municipal code may impose additional local standards beyond state law. Review the code carefully before beginning any project work.

Exemptions

Fla. Stat. § 489.103 exempts certain activities from licensing requirements, including:
- Work performed by full-time employees for private companies (when not offering services to the public)
- Certain routine maintenance or repair work
- Work performed under direct supervision of a licensed engineer

Refer to the statute for the complete list of exemptions, as they are narrowly defined.

State Licensing Board Contact

Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
- Phone: 850-521-0500
- Website: https://fbpe.org/

References

• Fla. Stat. § 489.103 — Exemptions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.105 — Definitions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.107 — Construction Industry Licensing Board
• Fla. Stat. § 489.113 — Qualifications for practice; restrictions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 — Credit for relevant military training and education
• Delray Beach Municipal Code

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)